By Ernie W. Webb III
LYNDON – Before leaving the field at halftime, Burlingame coach Jeff Slater gathered his team on the sideline and delivered a succinct message: “That is the worst half of football I’ve ever seen … and we’re still up by 10 points.”
Despite an ugly first half, though, the Bearcats were never seriously threatened in the second half of Friday’s sectional championship game, dominating the final two quarters in a 39-16 win at Lyndon. With the victory, Burlingame (10-1) not only avenged its only loss, but also advanced to the school’s fourth state semifinal in eight years (and first since 2017) under Slater.
Burlingame will play Little River, who ended the Bearcats’ season last year with a hard-fought 42-28 win in a regional title game, at home next Friday.
“Getting to the semifinals means a lot, especially to the seniors,” said senior Matthew Heckman, who had three interceptions and two touchdown receptions. “After watching those teams in 2016 and 2017 get to sub-state when we were seventh- and eighth-graders … we’re doing that now.”
The teams’ first meeting featured little defense, as the Tigers (8-3) scored a pair of late touchdowns to rally for a 60-59 win on their home field. That loss left a bitter taste in the Bearcats’ mouths, one they didn’t forget in the weeks leading up to the rematch.
“That loss hurt,” Heckman said. “We really wanted an undefeated season, and to lose that hurt. But I think that loss ended up being good for us. We’d lost our focus.”
That razor-sharp focus has been one of the key elements in a surprising season. While Burlingame emerged from a long slumber to become one of the top programs in Eight-Player I in recent years, most didn’t see the Bearcats contending in 2022 after losing several players to graduation.
Expectations, however, began to change as Slater watched his team jell during the offseason and in the weeks leading up the opening game. When the Bearcats manhandled a good Lebo team and knocked off second-ranked Chase County on the road, he knew they had something.
“This team really is super close, and when you have those teams, it’s really special,” Slater said. “They play for each other, celebrate each other’s success and are great competitors. It’s a great combination to have and really fun to watch it all come together.
“I want this so bad for the kids. I want them to have this moment. These are the memories you will hang on to, and I see the work and pride they take … it’s really rewarding to see them get to enjoy this.”
Neither team enjoyed the weather, notably bitter cold temperatures that dipped below freezing. The squads combined for nine turnovers, including six by Lyndon. Just three weeks after combining for 119 points and 864 yards, the Bearcats and Tigers tallied 55 points and 401 yards. In addition to the cascade of turnovers, both teams made adjustments on defense that paid dividends.
“We wanted to dictate what went on, especially on the defensive side of the ball,” Slater said. “I think you saw Lyndon do the same. They gave our offense fits all night. I also think our kids knew we didn’t perform our best in round one. They wanted to prove something tonight.”
Burlingame capitalized on Lyndon’s first turnover, a fumble at the Tigers’ 22, midway through the opening quarter. Colby Middleton capped the short drive with a 1-yard touchdown run at the 5:46 mark for a 6-0 lead.
After forcing a punt, the Bearcats made their first mistake of the night with a fumble deep in Lyndon territory. The Tigers promptly marched 70 yards in 11 plays, tying the game on a 13-yard pass from Jackson Biggs to Casten Wirth on fourth-and-goal. Evan Feuerborn scored on a two-point conversion pass from Jalen Massey, giving Lyndon an 8-6 edge early in the second period.
The lead lasted all of 21 seconds. On the next play from scrimmage, Middleton hit Heckman on a deep pass along the sideline. Heckman cut back to the middle of the field, racing 50 yards for a 12-8 advantage.
“A lot of guys made big plays, and that was my turn,” Heckman said.
The final seven minutes of the first half included four turnovers, including three interceptions by Heckman. The only scoring during that stretch came with 18.5 seconds left in the second frame. After Dane Winters converted a fourth-and-5 with a 10-yard reception, Middleton barreled his way into the end zone for an 18-8 lead.
“I took the way I played in our last game personally,” Heckman said of this flurry of picks. “My preparation for that game was not where it needed to be. Our preparation this week was where it needed to be.”
Lyndon’s struggles on offense continued in the third quarter, as the Tigers fumbled on their first possession and went three-and-out on their second. The Bearcats took advantage of the latter when Middleton rumbled 33 yards on a keeper at the 7:08 mark for a 25-8 lead.
Lyndon lost another fumble two plays later, and Burlingame surged ahead 33-8 on a beautifully thrown deep ball from Middleton to Heckman for a 25-yard touchdown. Middleton connected with Winters on the two-point conversion.
The Tigers cut the deficit to 33-16 on a 1-yard run by Massey and conversion pass from Biggs to Kaedin Massey late in the third period. Lyndon forced the Bearcats to punt on the next series, but Burlingame answered with a stop on fourth down.
The third-ranked Bearcats then put the game away with an eight-minute drive covering 50 yards. Two 10-yard receptions by Timmy Roberts came on third- and fourth-and-long, keying the possession. Middleton’s 1-yard run accounted for the final margin.
“I couldn’t be happier with how we approached this week and locked in on doing what it takes to win,” Slater said.
Middleton rushed for 143 bruising yards on 37 carries and completed 7 of 8 passes for 112 yards. Heckman added 81 yards on three receptions. Burlingame had 257 yards and won despite being penalized 11 times.
Biggs threw for 57 yards, while Feuerborn had 50 yards rushing for Lyndon. The Tigers had just 144 yards on 53 plays, including 87 rushing on 37 attempts (2.4 yards per carry).
BURLINGAME 39, LYNDON 16
Burlingame 6 12 15 6 — 39
Lyndon 0 8 8 0 — 16
First Quarter
BHS – Middleton 1 run (Pass failed)
Second Quarter
LHS – Wirth 13 pass from Biggs (Feuerborn pass from J. Massey)
BHS – Heckman 50 pass from Middleton (Pass failed)
BHS – Middleton 1 run (Kick failed)
Third Quarter
BHS – Middleton 33 run (Jose Arrevalo kick)
BHS – Heckman 25 pass from Middleton (Winters pass from Middleton)
LHS – J. Massey 1 run (K. Massey pass from Biggs)
Fourth Quarter
BHS – Middleton 1 run (Pass failed)
GAME IN FIGURES
BHS LHS
First downs 12 12
Rushes-Yards 48-170 37-87
Passing 7-8-0 6-16-3
Passing yards 112 57
Total yards 282 144
Punts N/A 2-11.5
Fumbles-lost 5-3 5-3
Penalties 11-72 5-35
INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS
RUSHING – Burlingame: Middleton 37-143, Winters 9-29, J.D. Tyson 2-(-2). Lyndon: Feuerborn 15-50, J. Massey 12-32, Ethen Ramey 2-8, Biggs 8-(-3).
RECEIVING – Burlingame: Heckman 3-81, Roberts 2-20, Winters 2-11. Lyndon: Wirth 2-30, J. Massey 2-18, Feuerborn 1-6, Ben Detwiler 1-3.
PASSING – Burlingame: Middleton 7-8-0 112. Lyndon: Biggs 6-16-3 57.